Teeth-cleaning device



Filed Sept. 26, 1923 M NB 7 INVENTOR flew/7'0! 7. fla oe M ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 15, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK Tv HOIE, 0F SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

TEETH-CLEANING DEVICE,

Application, filed. September To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK T. Horn, a citizen of the United States, residingat Seattle,in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Teeth-Cleaning Devices, of which the following'is a specification.

This invention relates to dental devices and, more especially, for teeth cleaning devices. v

The object of my invention, generally, is to provide devices of this-character which will be more efficient and convenient. to employ than other teeth cleaning devices hitherto in use. 7

More specific objects'and advantages of. the invention will appear in the following specification. k p

The invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and adaptation of devices hereinafter described and claimed;

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectionof a device 'embodyingmy invention, and

illustrated in its extended operative position. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same in its folded position including a cap member. Fig.3 is a transverse section on line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a transverse section on line 44 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an elevation of the left hand end of Fig. 1.

In said drawing, the reference numeral- 5 represents a tubular element constituting the peripheral wall of a casing member A, one end of said tubular element being closed by a plug element 6. '7 represents a similar tubular element of a second casing member B which is closed at one end by means of a plug 8. As shown, the respective end closures 6 and 8 are hingedly connected, as at 9, to enable said members to berelatively moved into axial alignment with each other, as illustrated in Fig. l or to be parallel with each other as shown in Figf 2; w I

For releasably'securing thetwo members A and B in their aligned relations (Fig; l) with each other Iprovidea latch comprising, preferably, a slotted stud 10 of the end element 6 of the member A'engageable in a recess 11 inthe end element 8 of theother member Bf Provided within the opposite end of the member A from its end element 6 is a ring 12 having a plurality of inwardly directed 26, 1923. Serial No. 664,812.

prongs 13 which serve as stops with respect to the outermost of a series of caps 14 which are formed of stiff paper or other material suitable for cleaning the teeth, as willbe explained hereinafter. v

The caps 14 are each of a substantially truncated conical shape and are nested one within the other as shown in Fig. 1.

The innermost of said caps being supported upon a follower 15 which is urged toward. the open end of the member A by means of a helical spring 16.

In practice, the operator with the device held in his hand employs the exposed or outermost of the caps 14: to scrape or abrade his teeth successively, by reciprocating the device in a general vertical direction, whereby'food, tartar, etc., are removed in a most rapid and thorough manner. After being thus employed a used cap is grasped bet-ween the thumb and a finger of the operator to remove the cap by tearing away the-same, which is facilitated by the prongs 13 ripping the material of the cap at its connection with said member.

The member B above" referred to is pro- I i mediate thereof circumferentially disposed.

flanges 24 which frictionally engage against the inner peripheral surface of the tube. The lid extension 22 is looped as at 25 about a transversely disposed hinge pin 26, the ends of which being rigidly secured to inwardly directed lugs 27 of the tube 7. From said loop the extension 22 is directed toward the axisof the member to a bend 28 and thence returns, as at 29, to terminate in afinger 30 adapted to yieldingly bear against the inner surface of the tube 7 The other exten sion23 is formed to abow shape by the provision of a bend 31 and terminates in an arm 32 which is parallel with'the lid plate 21, or nearly so.

The arm 32 is provided in its extremity with a slot 33 which terminates in a V-shaped end 34. Said arm is desirably provided in a sidethereot with a notch 35, arranged as shownin Fig. 5, to afford a-ihorn 36 whose inner side with respect to thenotgh 35 is formed as at 36 to provide a thread cutting edge. through the eye of the hook 18 (Fig. l.) and thencebetween the lid finger 30 and the opposing surface of the tube ,7 and then through an aperture 37 of the lid to be engaged. in :the- ;\l sha ped portion '34 of the arm notch 33, and finally engaged in the notch 35 asshown in Fig. 5.

The portion 20 otthe thread 20 between the lid plate 21 and tllflfll-ill 32 is intended to .be used in the interstices between teeth to remove from the latter any l'ood or other matter collected thereon.

:lVithin the member B the thread is clamped between the tube wall and the finger 30 of the lid when the latter is in closed relation with the tube. "lvhen the lidis swung into its open relation with the tube- 7, the thread is disengaged therefrom and the thread may then be pulledyout freely and be -,unwound from the sp ol 19, whereupon the soiled or used portion of the thread may be conveniently severed by means of the cutting edge of the horn36.

When unemployed, the device may be folded as-shown in Fig. 2 and {the outer ends of the two members engaged in a hollow cover lO which not only couple the free ends of the members together but also serves to protect the thread and outercap from becoming soiled.

A clip 41 provided on the cover 40 may advantageously be used to engage the edge of a persons pocket when it is desired to carry the device therein.

hat I claim, is v 1. Apparatus of the character described, consisting of a tubular casing member adapt ed to contain a plurality of tooth cleaning elements of substantially conical shapes, a second tubular casing member adapted to contain a supply of dental-"flossthread, said second member being provided eX-teriorly thereof with-means for holding a portion or" sa-iduthread in operative position, said members being hingedl connectcd together adjacentrto one end of each, and latch devices zfor releasably securing the members in their relatively'extended: positions.

Apparatus. of the character described, comprising illWO tubular casing 7 members hingedly'conneeted together at one end of each so as to be arranged in axial alignment .or'in folded relation, one with :the other, means wforf releasablv seeuringsaid members in their aligned arelation, means forreleasably securing.saidunembers -in.their relativelysfolded. positions, one of said membersaserving as a; container itor, tooth cl'eaningi elements vof (substantiallyconical ishapes, mean SgfQI protrudingsaidlelements 11517011115111 Thread or floss 20 is led' end of the respective member, the other of said members serving as .a container for dental-floss thread, means provided at one end of the last named member for holding a portion oi said'thread in tooth engaging relation, and thread grinning means proiile within the member last referred to.

3. In apparatus of the character described, the combination with a tubular casing having an open enchan vapertured lidprovided for 'the'open end of the casing, said lid. being provided with an arm element disposed in substantially right angular relation with respect to the casing axis, said casing being adapted to contain a supply ofdentalfloss thread and have the same extend through the aperture of said lid to havethe thread end attached to said arm,;ot a second tubular casing hingedly connected to the first named casing and having an open ,end, a spring-pressed'ytollowera provided in -said second named casing and adapted to support a plurality of tooth cleaning elements and to protrude one of the lattenfromthe open end of the second casino, means provided on thesecond named casing to limit the protrusion of acleaning element therefrom, and a cap engageable over the open ends ,of both of said ,casings.

4:. In; apparatus of the character described the combinationof a casing having anv open end and adapted to serve .as a. container for dental-floss threacha 'lid for said open end of 'the casing, thread clamping means .depending from said lid, an arm connectedto the lid and disposed substantially parallel therewith, said arm being provided w thread engaging meansto cooperate with said clamping means for retaining the thread in operative position. 7

5. Ina device of the character described, the combination with a tooth cleaningelement having a substantially conical shape, of atubular casing having an opening at one end thereof. a spring actuated follower provided in said casing to support said cleaning element and tending to push the same through the open end of the casing, and prongs provided on the casing and extending inwardly Ithereof to limiti the.. protruding of said element from the casing, said prongs also serving-to facilitate Ethetearing of said element when the latter is 'to be removeddrom the casing. i

6. In a device ot the characterdescribed, the combination with .a vtooth .cleaning. element having .a substantially .conical shape, of .avtubulai' .casing having an. openingflat one end thereof, a spring actuated follower provided in .said casing to support said cleaning element and tendingito pushvthe same through the open end of theorising, and means provided inthe. [open end (if-said casing fto limit :the outermost position of saidjelement ,vvith respectto the casing.

7. In a device of the character described, the combination with tooth cleaning thread, of a casing for'receiving the thread, a lid hingedly connected to said casing for closing an end thereof, said lid being provided with an aperture for said thread, an arm' element of said lid extending into the casing to cooperate with the casing Wall for frictionally engaging the thread therebetween, and an extension of said lid exteriorly of the casing, said extension terminating in a thread attaching arm disposed substantially parallel with the lid, the last named arm being provided with a sharp edge for cutting said thread.

8. In a device of the character described, a casing serving as a thread container, a lid for one end of the casing, said lid having two arms integral therewith, means provided on one of said arms to engage the thread for securing the same exteriorly of lid for one end of said casing, said lid being provided with an extension terminating in an arm arranged in substantially parallel relations with the lid and at right angles to the casing axis, said arm bein provided with thread engaging means, and means provided within the casing for engaging the thread, the last named means coacting with said arm and the aperture of said lid for retaining the thread between the latter and the arm in substantially parallel relation with the casing axis.

Signed at Seattle, Washington, this 19th day of September, 1923.

FREDERICK T. HOPE. 

